Ouch, there really is such harsh stereotypes for only children. I tend to think that only children are fairly open and loving. Perhaps it comes from never having to compete for attention. There are a lot of totally grounded, well-adjusted, just-selfish-enough, only children out there, just as there are first, middle, and youngest.

how about for those of us who don't care one way or the other?

Why do only children constantly need to defend ourselves against these sorts of stereotypes? My friends with siblings often pay me the "compliment" of saying, "I never would have guessed you are an only child! You don't act like one." The obnoxious, selfish, self-centered people that I know don't tend to fit in a birth order stereotype. But I guess if these negative stereotypes keep us only children out of the company of prejudging individuals, it can't be all bad.

I am an only child and am currently in a relationship going on 1 year now, and we are very in love. So that just goes to prove that stereotype wrong, being an only child does not make you selfish, your parents giving you everything you want makes you selfish, and that can happen in any kind of family whether they have 1 or 10 kids.

If you ask me you make yourself into who you want to be, being an only child or not. Everyone is selfish to some extent because we are all human. And i agree why do we have to keep defending ourselves against a stupid stereotype.

When it comes to dating accept the person for who they are not and love them for them, not their up bringing or because they dont wear green or because they didnt have a dog while growing up.